Lodge to lodge trekking in a seldom explored corner of the Peruvian Andes

Bookended by days at Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, get off the tourist track and trek high into the jagged mountains and eternal glaciers that were once the sacred spots of the mighty Incas. Despite soft nights in trailside eco-lodges, this trip is for the rugged: we’ll spend multiple days above 15,000 feet and top out at 17,000 as we cross the spectacular Palomani Pass. So if you’re dreaming of “high” adventure, look straight up into the clouds and then come join us on this inspiring trek along the roofline of the Americas.

Activities

6 days strenuous hiking (max. elev. 16,564')

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Extreme high-altitude hiking through the wild peaks and valleys of the Peruvian Andes
• Hard days of trekking and soft nights spent in rustic eco-lodges built from local materials
• Unparalleled high Andean scenery in every direction, plus a night spent at the foot of Apu Ausangate (20,950'), the most sacred mountain in the Inca culture
• Thorough exploration of Machu Picchu and the vibrant world of Lake Titicaca

2010 Prices
$4,295 (7-14 members)
$4,495 (4-6 members)
$400 internal airfare
$1100 single supplement

Duration: 11 days Start Location: Lima End Location: Lima Best time to go: May - August

Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Lima – Cusco – Machu Picchu

  Fly from Lima to Cusco and we'll go straight from the airport to the heart of the sacred Urubamba Valley-to Machu Picchu. This was the breadbasket of the Inca Empire, and a good place for us to acclimate.

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  Day 2 : Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo

  No trip to the Andes is complete without a day to explore the lost city of the Incas. After exploring Machu Picchu, the voices of the kings will linger throughout our trek. Drive to Ollantaytambo.

• Day 3 : Pumamarca and Choquebamba

  We'll take a shakedown hike through high Andean crags, flowering meadows, and the seldom-visited ruins of Pumamarca to Choquebamba.

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  Day 4 : Cusco

  Today we'll explore Cusco, once the economic and cultural capital of the Incas. The city planners laid Cusco out in the shape of a puma!

• Day 5 : Urubamba Valley – Chillca

  Our trek begins! We'll ascend gradually to 13,000' along the vertiginous Japora Gorge until we reach the remote village of Chillca.

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  Day 6 : Chillca – Machuracay

  Past waterfalls, panoramic vistas and fields of grazing alpaca, we'll make our way to Machuracay to the base of Apu Ausangate (20,950'), the Incas' most sacred mountain.

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  Day 7 : Machuracay – Anantapata

  Today we cross Palomani Pass (17,000'), with its dizzying views of glaciated mountains and the red sandstone formations of the Nevada del Inca to Anantapata. Another night in a cozy stone eco-lodge.

• Day 8 : Anantapata – Huampococha

  A spectacular day of mountains layers with strata of red, ochre, and blue. Be on the lookout for llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas as we hike to Huampococha!

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  Day 9 : Huampococha – Puno

  After one last pass over the moonscape mountains, we'll descend through an eerie rock "forest" made of eroded limestone to Puno. Later we'll visit with the native Quechua and Aymara people who make their home here.

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  Day 10 : Lake Titicaca

  Travel to Lake Titicaca and have a full day to explore the highest navigable lake on earth. We'll head for Taquile Island, where three thousand Quechua farmers and weavers make their living as they have done for hundreds of years.

• Day 11 : Puno – Juliaca – Lima

  Drive from Puno to Juliaca. On our way to the airport we’ll stop at the pre-Inca burial grounds at Sillustani. Then it’s off to the airport for our flights to Lima to meet with our connections home.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

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